It was another impressive day at the office for the Indonesia Stock Exchange. Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) surged 1.35 percent to 5,242.82 points on Wednesday (21/07). After Thailand's benchmark index, the Jakarta Composite Index was the best performing index in Asia today. Overall, Asian markets were mixed as most investors seem to reassess the global economy after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) decided to cut its global growth outlook (modestly) on Tuesday (19/07).

In the post-Brexit reality, stocks have been performing well, worldwide, with the exception of the week of 4 July when markets were hit by profit-taking amid heightened concern about the world's economic fundamentals. Apart from that week (when Indonesian markets were closed for a public holiday) stocks have been rallying, fueled by optimism about monetary stimulus from key central banks. So far this week, gains in worldwide stocks reappeared, fed by a positive (but not too positive) US jobs report and the prospect of more stimulus from central banks.

After Indonesia's markets have been closed for one full week due to the Idul Fitri holiday, they are back open today (11/07). Because of last week's holiday, Indonesia's stock market has not experienced the sell-off that occurred in other markets in the week of 4 - 8 July. This sell-off followed a relief-rally in global markets after the Brexit vote decision: although shortly after Brexit, global shares gained on central bank's stimulus hopes, the sell-off emerged one week later as investors started to be concerned about the impact of Brexit and the economic fundamentals of Europe.

The Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) and the Financial Services Authority (OJK) aim to boost the number of listed companies in Indonesia by making it easier for companies to go public in an initial public offering (IPO). One strategy is the setting up of "Go Public" information centers in Jakarta and other big cities in Indonesia. This would mean that company officials will not need to travel to Jakarta to collect documents and provide data to the IDX. Soon, this will be possible in the regional centers. These centers can also introduce underwriters to companies that are interested to go public.

In line with other Asian assets, Indonesian stocks and the rupiah strengthened on Monday (20/06) as falling odds of a "Brexit" boosts risk appetite. Voters in the United Kingdom will decide in a referendum on Thursday (23/06) whether or not to remain part of the European Union (EU). An exit of the UK from the EU (the so-called "Brexit") is expected to cause a major global shock and flight to safety. The latest opinion polls, however, indicate a growing chance that the UK will remain part of the UK, hence causing a sigh of relief on global markets. Meanwhile, oil prices were up on the weakening US dollar.

Indonesian independent power producer Cikarang Listrindo raised IDR 2.4 trillion (approx. USD $180.5 million) from an initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange on Tuesday (14/06). The company is the first independent power producer to go public in Indonesia and the 5th firm to be added on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2016. Cikarang Listrindo floated 9.7 percent of its enlarged share capital on the bourse. On its trading debut its shares rose 2.6 percent from IDR 1,500 to IDR 1,540 a piece.

It was a bad start of the new trading week. Stocks in Asia were deep in the red due to risk aversion, falling the most in four weeks amid concern about the "Brexit" referendum, uncertainty before this week's central bank meetings in the USA and Japan, falling crude oil prices, and the worst mass shooting in modern US history. Indonesia was among the affected markets; the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell 0.84 percent to 4,807.23 on Monday (13/06), while the rupiah only depreciated slightly to IDR 13,298 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index).

Duta Intidaya, an Indonesia-based health and beauty products retailer, targets to collect up to IDR 90.8 billion (approx. USD $6.7 million) from an initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange that is planned for June 2016. This would make Duta Intidaya, the operator of the Watsons stores in Indonesia, the fifth company to go public in Indonesia this year. Lilis Mulyawati, Director of Duta Intidaya, said the book building process for the company's IPO is conducted between 31 May and 6 June 2016, while the offering period is set for 17-21 June. Listing on the IDX is scheduled for 28 June 2016.

For sure Indonesia's financial system will be affected by the Federal Reserve's decision to implement another interest rate hike, and especially emerging market currencies - including the rupiah - are vulnerable to further monetary tightening in the world's top economy. Most analysts now believe a Fed Funds Rate (FFR) hike could occur in July 2016. In previous rounds of US monetary tightening (QE tapering and the December 2015 FFR hike) we witnessed large capital outflows from Indonesia. What will be the impact of another US interest rate hike on Indonesia?

Indonesian shipping company Sillo Maritime Perdana, which provides offshore support vessels, plans to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). The company set the indicative price for its IPO in the range of IDR 117-140 a piece. By issuing 600 million new shares, or 23.08 percent of its enlarged share capital, Sillo Maritime Perdana targets to collect roughly IDR 77 billion (approx. USD $5.7 million) in funds from the IPO. Lautandhana Securindo and UOB Kay Hian Securities were appointed as underwriters for the IPO.

The year 2017 already finished for equity investors and therefore we can take a look back at the performance of Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index over the past 12 months. Indonesian stocks, generally, had a good year, with the benchmark index rising 19.99 percent to close 2017 at 6,355.65 points, a new all-time record high.

After touching a new all-time record high level last week, analysts are optimistic that Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index will surpass the psychological level of 6,000.00 points later this year. Last Friday (25/08) the benchmark index of Indonesia reached 5,915.36 points, a new record, while market capitalization touched IDR 6,481.8 trillion (approx. USD $483.9 billion).

While the Jakarta Composite Index has been touching record high levels recently, there emerged a new leader on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. Indonesia's largest telecommunication and network provider Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) is now the largest company in Indonesia in terms of market capitalization on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. It replaced tobacco manufacturer HM Sampoerna that fell to third position.

In order to make an initial public offering (IPO) in Indonesia more attractive the Indonesia Stock Exchange is advised to make this corporate move less expensive for companies. Also the annual listing fee as well as the deposit that needs to be paid to the Financial Services Authority (OJK) need to be revised in order to encourage more local companies to conduct an IPO in Indonesia. Although being Southeast Asia's largest economy, the number of listed companies in Indonesia is far below the number of listed companies in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.

Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index experienced another tough day on Monday (14/11). After Indonesian stocks plunged 4.01 percent on Friday, stocks fell another 2.2 percent today. Not only Indonesia, but most Asian markets are hit by the selloff, particularly the emerging markets of Southeast Asia. Investors are re-evaluating their emerging market assets now Donald Trump has been elected the next US president (and who can rely on a Republican-controlled US Congress). To make matters worse, current uncertainty is expected to persist in the next couple of months.

Indonesian assets were the worst performers in Asia on Thursday's trading day (03/11). Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) fell 1.41 percent to 5,329.50 points, the largest single-day drop in the past two months. The performance of Indonesia was in line with the regional (and global) trend. Over the past couple of days a worldwide selloff occurred as polls indicate that the US presidential race between Hillary Clinton (Democrats) and Donald Trump (Republicans) is tighter than initially assumed.

In line with the performance of most stocks in Asia, Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index plunged 1.66 percent to 5,281.92 points on Friday (09/09). Several matters brought negative market sentiments to Asia: the European Central Bank (ECB) seems unwilling to boost asset purchases, North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test, while Indonesia's central bank announced that the nation's retail sales expanded at a slower pace in July 2016. Meanwhile, the Indonesian rupiah depreciated 0.34 percent to IDR 13,108 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index).

Many things happened this week. A devastating terror attack in Nice (France) killed at least 84 people, while - at the time of writing - a coup attempt occurred in Turkey (that seems to have failed). However, these events have little impact on the performance of global stocks and currencies (with the obvious exception of the Turkish lira). Wall Street touched record highs, while Indonesian stocks rose to a 13-month high and the Indonesian rupiah strengthened to a four-month high. Lets take a closer look at the performance of these markets over the past week.